Receptacle closure means



Patented Apr. 12, L 1949 ."UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE; I 1,. 2 ,467,0ss 7 Y nEcrii 'r oLE CLOSURE MEANS :W. Konchan; Berwyn, Ill. Application October 3, 1945, Serial No. 620,051

' The present'inv'ention relates to a receptacle closure means and will hereinfor convenience be explained as a closurefor the gasoline tank 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-40) of an automotive vehicle, although it is not so h limited.

' "The present invention relates to closure mem- An important object of the present invention is to provide a closure cap which may be economically manufactured, in the main; from stampings. f

An object of the present invention is to provide a closure cap which is applied and removed by twisting action and which is frictionally held in closed position. r

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for applying frictional pressure between two relatively movable closure members for retaining the cap in closed position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel means for mounting the lugs of a cap for frictionally engaging the neck of a gas tank wherein the parts are rugged and capable of long-time use without breakage.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide novel means for causing frictional holding engagement between two relatively rotatable members' Theabove, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawmgs.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and th views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a neck and a cap connected in closedrelation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the neck.

Figure 3 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in-vertical section through th neck.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the cap showing details of construction, and showing relationship of parts when cap is in place on the neck.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the cap showing relationship of parts when cap is removed from the neck.

.. Figure dis a bottom plan View of the cap.

The drawing will now be explained.

' The chosen exemplification of the present invention includes a neck A, which may be suitably attached to a closure, or receptacle, and a removable cap B.

The neck member A is shown as having a cylindrical base l0 and a cylindrical neck H, preferablyof less diameter than the base, although the base [0 would not be used when the neck is formed as part of a receptacle.

The upper margins of the neck a're'intur'ned to form two oppositely disposed inner flanges l2 and 13, which are circumferentially separated by gaps I l and [5. The lower edg or each flange" I2 is inclined downwardlyas at It, from its entrance end adjacent its gap, the inclined edge terminating in a shoulder IT.

The cap B comprises a shallow cup l8 having a substantially cylindrical wall 19 and a central portion 28. As illustrated in Figures-i and 5 the lower surface of the central portion 2!] will be designated as the outer surface and the opposite surface will be designated as the inner surface.

A'movable member 2| is normally maintained in surface engagement with the outer surface of the central portion 20. This movable member 2! is formed as a shallow cup having a peripheral skirt 22 out of which are struck two lugs 23 and 24 which are curved in cross section.

The central portion 20 of cap B isprovided-with apertures 25, two being shown, through-which pass pins 26 and 21 which at theirlower ends are connected to the movable member 2 lin any satisfactory manner so as to prevent separation. Lying against the inner surface of the central portion 20 is a leaf spring C having a substantially horizontal central portion 28 and end portions 29 and 30 which are inclined downwardly, with their extremities bent to ride on the inner surface of the portion 20. The upper ends of the pins 26 and :21 are secured to the central portion 28 of the spring. When the parts are assembled the spring is tensioned so as to normally maintain the movable member-2| in engagement with the outer surface of the portion '20 of the cap. The spring C is tensioned not only to 'maintain the movable'member against the portion 20 of the cap but to resist movement of the member 2| away from the portion 20 which movement occurs when the lugs 23and 24 are moved along the inclined edges l6 of the flanges of the neck A. The passage of the pins 26 and zl through the apertures 25 in the portion 20 prevents'any movement of the movabl member 2|, with respect to the portion 20, in any other direction than axial,

The cap is designed to be manufactured at minimum cost. The parts are formeda's stampings', except for the pins, and the assembly of the parts may be quickly accomplished. After the movable member 2| has been mounted on the portion 20 and the pins 26 and 21 fixed to the member 2| and spring C, the cover 3| is applied over the inner surface of the portion 2|! with the cover flange overlapping the flange or wall l9 thereof, whereupon the lapping flanges are spun, thus permanently securing the cover 3| in place and completing the cap.

Before the member 2| is applied to the portion 20, the washer 34 is applied thereto, to position it betwe ienthelugs'f 23 and arena tliejoutersurface oftlie-portion 20; 5 7

The operation of the closure is as follows:

The cap B is applied to the open end of the mentand proportion oi the parts,gand equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 I claim as my invention:

1. Closuremeans for a receptacle, including a receptacle neck having inturned portions forming .circumferentially spaced flanges having inclined loweredges,acap nember for application to said During the twisting movement of the cap B to bring the lugs against the shoulders, the inclined edges 46 of the flanges causes movement of the movable member 2| away from the portion of the cap. This movementis resisted by the tension of the spring C, the tension increasing as the cap is twisted. By reason offthe fact that the surfaces of the lugs 23 and 24 which engage the inclined edges [6 of the flanges, are curved, wear is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the curved formation of lugs and the tension imposed on the movable member 2| by the spring. 0, assures that the cap B will remain in place, with the lugs against theshoulders l1, until the cap is manually twisted in the opposite direction.

7 ,As may be seen in Figure 4, when the cap Bis in place on the neck A, the central or. mid portion 23 i the spring C is bent towards the portion 20 easisth geed ra io 29 n 30 a e Slightly straightened, thus exerting sufficient tension to hold the lugs 23 and 24 tightly against the flanges and shoulders to prevent accidental displacement due to vibration. Also, the member 2|is moved away from the portion 20. A

Because of the fact that the movable member 2| is guided in axial direction only, wear imposed on the lugs is reduced to a minimum. Such reduction of wear prolongs the life of the capjmakf ing replacements thereof a rarity.

There are caps on the market, in which the lugs constitute the end portions of a piece, of spring metal riveted to a cap. Repeated applications and removal of such caps flexes the spring to an extent, where it often breaks, or, being exposed to the atmosphere when removed, becomes rusted to a point where it is no longer efiective to hold the cap in position on the neck. a 1 H In the present invention, by reason of the fact that the spring is concealed between the portion 20 and the cover 3 lwof the cap, protection is given the spring so that it is not subjected to rusting.

In order to open the interior of the receptacle to which the neck A is attached, to the atmosphere, a vent. 32 is formed in the central portion 2llwithinthe confines of the movable member 2|, and, in fact, the member 2| has a registeringvent 32a so that air within the receptacle may enter the space between the central portion2|i and the cover 3| and escape .to the atmosphere through a second vent 33 formed in the central-portion 20 outwardly of the exterior of theneck l of the memberA. smas es-. su r m the m v b im mber :5

neck having'a part movable axially of said cap andhaving lugs engageable with the inclined edges of said flangesga tensioned leaf spring mounted in said cap and connected by pins to said movable part, said'pi'ns' passing through a portion of said cap' structure to limit the movement of saidmovable part to axial movement only.

. 2. Closuremeans for a receptacle, including a receptacle neck having inturned portions forming circumferentially spaced flanges having inclined lower edges; a cap member for application to said; neckhaving apart movable axially of said capand having lugs engageable with the inclined edges of said flanges; a tensioned leaf spring mpuntedin said cap; and pins passing" through thespring, a portion of the cap and through the movable'part to connect said movable part to said cap member. 1 H a 3-. $9 1. 3 9 r c ec t m dm a resented? ilecisme r ha i n r d portions forming circumferentially spaced flanges having inclined lower edges, said flanges being circument a r pecssltq r e? os e member including a body pgrtion and a -movable portion, said'body portion comprising a top partand a bottom part, said parts having interengaged flanges to permanently connect them together, saidgnovable part being formed with rigid lugs whicni en rabl r u h s i s nd which engage the inclined edges when saidmembers are connected and relativelyitwisted; a tensioned leaf spring within said body portion; means; passing through said spring, body portion bottom and said movable part to connect said movable part to said body portion and to prevent relative rotative movement oi the body member and movable portion, the tensioning of said spring being such as to normally retain the movable portion against the bottom part of the closure and increasing as said lugs are'moved along said inclined ,edges when said members are relatively twisted to connect, the same.

J "BEFERENGES CITED" 'The' following references are of record in the 1,887,700 Stevens NOV. 15,, 1932 

